Pumping station



W. G. BUDD 3,1 12,760 PUMPING STATION Filed May 22, 1961 0 32 32 a 7 /04i 34% I 1 Wallace GBudd b I INVENTOR.

32-38 36 i 4 BY 3 /5445 /4 34. Fi g. l

atent Patented Dec. 3, l3

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3,112,769 PUMPING STATEON Wallace G. Budd, Portland, Greg, assignor toCornell Manufacturing 'Company, Portland, Greg, :1 corporation of GregonFiled May 22, 196i, Ser. N 111,665 6 (Jlaims. (Q5. 137-353) Thisinvention relates to pumping equipment, and more particularly to asewage pumping or lift station in sewagehandling systems.

In sewage-handling systems, pumping or lift stations (also sometimesreferred to as ejectors) are employed to collect sewage and then forcethe sewage into a sewage main where it travels to a final disposed area.A lift station may contain a considerable amount of complex and diversetypes of equipment, that requires for its installation the use ofskilled technicians and craftsmen. Proper installation is especiallyimportant in minimizing shutdown and servicing periods after the liftstation has been in use. In connection with the servicing of liftstations, it should be remembered that in outlying districts, thetendency has been to use relatively small and scattered stations, andfrequent servicing can add considerably to the cost of handling sewage.

The considerations outlined generally above have indicated the need fora packaged sewage lift or pumping station, that may be substantiallycompletely manufactured at a factory, and then shipped to aninstallation site with relatively minor additional work required toplace the station in operation. In this manner, skilled technicians maybe employed to install the equipment in the lift station, and factorytesting methods may be used to determine the operability of theequipment after installation. It is, therefore, a general object of theinvention to provide an improved pumping or lift station that is ideallysuited for factory manufacture, and shipment as a substantially completeunit to an installation site.

Pumping stations of the type contemplated are usually installedunderground, requiring that excavation and other work be done prior tomounting the station in place.

To facilitate such underground installation, this invention alsocontemplates as one of its objects the provision of a novel pumpingstation thatis relatively compact, such compactness being achievedwithout sacrifice of pumping capacity.

One type of station that has been used in the past relies on anair-pressure system for lifting sewage. The station has included somesort of chamber, or well, for collecting sewage material, and anotherchamber rOI collecting air under pressure. Operation of the station isintermittent, as air under pressure first must be collected, prior toits use as a means for lifting a quantity of sewage. During the liftingof sewage, air collection is stopped, and during the collection of airno sewage is moved. This tends to limit pumping capacity for agiven-sized unit. The requirement that an air-collecting chamber be provided has also effected the size of the station.

Another object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an improvedpumping or lift station, that relies on submersible pump means formoving the sewage, such pump means being capable of continuousoperation, and offering considerable flexibility in operation. For agiven-sized station, a greater pumping capacity results, and as acorollary, for given capacity a more compact station is possible.

The pumping or lift station of this invention features an elongated,upright, hollow casing, closed at its top and bottom, and divided into apair of chambers with one on top of the other. The bottom chamber formsa wet well in the casing, and is employed in collectin sewage material.Disposed at the base of this wet well are 2 submersible, electricmotor-driven pump units, each including a motor and a pump portion. Theoutlets of the pump portions of the units are connected to dischargeconduits, and these extend upwardly into the upper chamber, and thenceoutside the casing. per chamber of the casing is control means forregulating the motors of the pumps, and control valves or means forregulating the discharge through the discharge conduits. Blowermechanism is also included, used in circulating air in the upper chamberof the casing.

Various generalized features and objects of the invention have beenindicated above. These and other more specific objects and advantageswill become more fully apparent from reading the description thatfollows, where a specific embodiment of the invention is described, suchdescription to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with portions removed,

equipment in the top chamber, and the bottom chamber functioning as awet well or sewage-collecting chamber; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 2-2 in FF. 1,looking down at a platform inside of the casing that divides the casinginto two chambers.

Referring now to the drawings, 19 indicates an elongated, upright,hollow casing, having a cylindrical side wall 12, and closing 05 thebottom of the casing a base '14. Closing off the top of the casing is acover panel 16. (Dover panel is is provided with an access hole 17, andthis hole is closed by a hinged lid 18. The sides and base of the casingare Watertight, to prevent leakage of water into and sewage out of thecasing, with the same installed underground. Dividing the casing,approximately midway between its top and bottom ends, is a divider orplatform Ztl, and this is sealed around its outer margin to the sides ofthe casing.

Steel sections may be used in the construction of the casing, suchbeingsuitably joined together as by welding. Other material may be used,however. In some instances, it may be practical to make the casing ofmolded concrete sections, suitably joined in a watertight fashion.

Divider 2t) divides the interior of the casing into two chambers,indicated at 22 and 24. The upper chamber 22 is used to house controlequipment, and is referred to herein as anequipment chamber in thepumping station. Lower chamber 24 is used to collect sewage, and isreferred to herein as a fluid-collecting chamber, or wet well, in thepumping station.

Considering first of all lower chamber 24, an inlet connecting with theinterior of the chamber is shown at 39. Sewage flows to the lift orpumping station and through inlet 30, from a pipe 31.

Mounted on base 14 and at the bottom of chamber 24 are a pair ofelectric motor-driven, submersible pump units, indicated at 32, 34. Eachunit includes a motor portion, indicated at 32a, 34a, and an impellerpump portion, indicated at 32b, 34b. Each pump portion has an inlet 3-6,and such opens to the interior of the collecting chamber at the base ofthe chamber. Fluid leaves each pump portion through an outlet 38, whenceit flows through a discharge conduit .0 extending up and into theequipment chamber. The pumps are mounted at the base of thefluid-collecting chamber, as it has been found not practical in handlingsewage material to lift sewage by means of a vacuum.

In the equipment chamber, the discharge conduits for the two pump unitsjoin together. Sewage flows out of the casing through a common conduitor pipe 46. Each (J of the discharge conduits is provided with a checkvalve, indicated at 48, and a gate valve, indicated at 51}. These are inthe equipment chamber, and thus are pro ected from the weather by thewalls defining the equipment chamber. The valves enable either one, orboth of the pump units, to be used in lifting sewage. The inclusion oftwo pump units in the lift station provides flexibility, and a degree ofstand-by capacity.

An access port 54 provides access to the interior of wet well or chamber2 Such is normally covered by a cover 55 fastened to divider 2%. Afluid-tight seal is provided between cover 56 and platform or divider20.

For venting the collecting chamber or wet well, a vent pipe 6% isincluded. This has an open bottom end connecting with the interior ofthe wet well, and the top thereof protrudes from the top of cover panel16.

The submersible pump units are not ordinarily operated continuously, butonly at such times as sufficient sewage has collected in the wet Well tomake their operation practical. Within the wet well, and regulating theoperating periods of the pump portions of the units, is a levelindicator 62. This takes the form of a hollow pipe, closed at its topend, that captures air as the level of sewage rises, with the pressureof such air increasing as the height of sewage increases. In anorganization where 'it is desired to use both pump units in liftingsewage, a

pressure-sensitive switch 63 may be provided, which is actuated upon apredetermined presssure of air being reached in indicator 62. to startoperation or" one of the pump units. On a higher pressure of air beingreached, (should the sewage level rise to a higher elevation), switch 63is actuated to produce operation of both pump units.

Upper or equipment chamber 22 has, on one side, a control panel 64,which houses control switches for the motor portions of pump units 32,34. Supply conductors or lines 63, 70 for the motor portions of the pumpunits extend up through the divider or platform, whence they connectwith the control switches of panel 64. Conductors 66 connectpressure-sensitive switch as with the switches of panel 64, so that onactuation of switch 63, as determined by the pressure of air within pipe62, proper operation of the pump units occurs.

At 86 is indicated a blower provided in the equipment chamber, forforcing air out of the chamber and thus causing a circulation of airtherein. Blower 86 has a blower motor 88 for actuating it. Air isejected through a vent 89. The intake for the blower is at 99. Theblower motor is connected by conductors 92 to the switches of controlpanel 64, and when a submersible pump unit is running, switches incontrol panel 64 are actuated to cause the blower to operate also. Byrunning the blower conjointly with operation of any pump unit, operationof the blower depends automatically on the ctivity of the pumpingstation. Thus, during periods of relatively heavy use, when there is aconsiderable flow of sewage into the Wet well, and odors and gases tendto collect in the equipment chamber, the blower runs frequently. On theother hand, during inactive periods, when there is no flow of sewage tothe wet well, the

lower cut oil.

Completing the description of the pumping station, lifting lugs 1% areprovided casing 1% adjacent the top of the casing. These are useful whentransporting the station to the site of installation, and also whenlowering the station into the ground. Within the casing, a laddersecured to the casing extends down inside the casing from hole 17. Theladder enables an inspector or repairman to climb down into theequipment station. Brackets 1 34 are secured to the inside of the casingbelow divider 2t and are used when climbing down into the wet well.

From the above it should be apparent that a pumping or lift station iscontemplated that readily lends itself to manufacture as a packagedunit, in a factory, ready for immediate installation. Equipmentinstalled in the station can be tested at the factory.

The station is compact, and a minimum amount of excavation is necessarypnior to placing it in the ground. Because of the presence of two pumpunits, the station has a stand-by capacity and a flexibility inoperation that many pumping or lift stations do not have. Thesubmersible pump units are eihcient and relatively trouble free inoperation. Unlike some stations that require compressed air for liftingsewage, the submersible pump units may be operated continuously, withcontinuous lifting of sewage resulting.

While an embodiment of the invention has been described, various changesand modifications are possible without departing from the invention. Itis desired not to be limited to the specific details of the embodimentillustrated, but to cover all modifications and variations that would beapparent to one skilled in the art, and that come within the scope ofthe appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A pumping station comprising, in operative position, an uprightcasing having therein at the base of the casing a collecting chamber andon top of said collecting chamber and closed ofi therefrom an equipmentchamber, submersible motor-driven pump means mounted at the base of saidcollecting chamber, said motor-driven pump means including a motor and apump with the motor connected to the pump to drive the pump, an intakefor said pump opening to the interior ofthe collecting chan her, aninlet connecting with the interior of said collecting chamber for thedelivery of fluid thereto, an outlet for said pump and discharge conduitmeans connected to said outlet extendingnp and into said equipmentchamber and thence outside said casing, control valve means for saiddischarge conduit means disposed in said equipment chamber, and controlmeans operatively connected to the motor-driven pump means forcontrolling its operation and disposed in said equipment chamber.

2. In sewage-handling equipment, a packaged pumping station comprisingan upright hollow casing with means closing the top and bottomof thecasing, a platform dividing the interior. of said casing into an upperand a lower chamber with the lower chamber forming a wet well forcollecting sewage and the two chambers sealed from each other, asubmersible motor-driven pump means mounted at the base of said wetwell, said motordriven pump means including a motor and a pump, with themotor connected to the pump to drive the pump, an intake for said pumpopening to the interior of said wet well, an outlet for said pump and adischarge conduit connected to said outlet extending upwardly from thewet well into said upper chamber and thence out of said cas ng, controlvalve means for said discharge conduit disposed in said equipmentchamber, and control means for the motor-driven pump means disposed insaid equipment chamber and connected to said motor-driven pump means.

3. A pumping station comprising a hollow casing having therein afluid-collecting chamber and sealed from and on top of thefluid-collecting chamber an equipment chamber, a submersiblemotor-driven pump means mounted at the base of said collecting chamber,said motor-driven pump means including a motor and a pump with the motorconnected to the pump to drive the pump, an inta re for said pumpopening to the interior of said collecting chamber, an outlet for saidpump and discharge means extending from said outlet to outside saidcasing, an inlet connecting with the interior of said 1collectingchamber for the delivery of fluid thereto, a motordriven blowerand'control means therefor disposed in said equipment chamber forevacuating air from the equipment chamber, a level indicator disposed insaid fluid-collecting chamber, control means for said motordriven pumpmeans operatively connected to the motordriven pump means and disposedin said equipment chamher, and means connecting said level indicator andthe control means for said motor-driven pump means and said motor-drivenblower whereby operating periods of said motor-driven blower and pumpmeans are determined by said level indicator.

other sealed from said one and directly on top of said one, a pair ofelectric motor-driven submersible pump units, each including an electricmotor portion and a level-indicator means and said control means for themotor portions of the pump units whereby the operating periods of themotor portions are controlled by said level indicator.

5. In sewage-handling equipment, a pumping station comprising, inoperative position, an upright hollow casing with means closing ofi thetop and bottom thereof, a sealed platform extending across the inside ofthe casing between its ends and dividing it into two compartments withone sealed from the other, said platform having an opening thereinproviding access to the lower of the two compartments from the upper ofthe two compartments and including a sealed cover closing said opening,a unit including a motor and a pump with the motor connected uppercompartment.

6. In sewage-handling equipment, a pumping station comprising an uprighthollow casing with means closing off the top and bottom of the casing, aplatform extendlower chamber whereby said chamber becomes a wet well inthe pumping station, and a discharge line for said pump connected tosaid pump and extending from said lower chamber out of said casinReferences Cited in the file of this patent

1. A PUMPING STATION COMPRISING, IN OPERATIVE POSITION, AN UPRIGHTCASING HAVING THEREIN AT THE BASE OF THE CASING A COLLECTING CHAMBER ANDON TOP OF SAID COLLECTING CHAMBER AND CLOSED OFF THEREFROM AN EQUIPMENTCHAMBER, SUBMERSIBLE MOTOR-DRIVEN PUMP MEANS MOUNTED AT THE BASE OF SAIDCOLLECTING CHAMBER, SAID MOTOR-DRIVEN PUMP MEANS INCLUDING A MOTOR AND APUMP WITH THE MOTOR CONNECTED TO THE PUMP TO DRIVE THE PUMP, AN INTAKEFOR SAID PUMP OPENING TO THE INTERIOR OF THE COLLECTING CHAMBER, ANINLET CONNECTING WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID COLLECTING CHAMBER FOR THEDELIVERY OF FLUID THERETO, AN OUTLET FOR SAID PUMP AND DISCHARGE CONDUITMEANS CONNECTED TO SAID OUTLET EXTENDING UP AND INTO SAID EQUIPMENTCHAMBER AND THENCE OUTSIDE SAID CASING, CONTROL VALVE MEANS FOR SAIDDISCHARGE CONDUIT MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID EQUIPMENT CHAMBER, AND CONTROLMEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE MOTOR-DRIVEN PUMP MEANS FORCONTROLLING ITS OPERATION AND DISPOSED IN SAID EQUIPMENT CHAMBER.